After seeing several replies, I have to say I agree with most of them. 
I'm currently looking at moving and have given some thought to what I 
like/dislike about houses.

Aside from the wiring/geek-stuff,  I want a well ventilated home. 
Alternative heating/cooling systems also.

Low maintenance.  You have better things to do than upkeep.

A big one for me: privacy.  But on 10 acres, you probably have that one 
in control.

Someone mentioned a tower; I like that.  Stargazing, watching sunsets, 
having friends over for good food.  I once had a cousin with a two story 
home and they could open the upper story windows with no screens and not 
get invaded by insects.  (in day light, anyway)

Fountains are nice, but they do require some maintenance.  Probably 
worth it.

If I could do it, I would also like an exercise room and lap pool.

Gardens, trees, rocks, water.  Do it right and you will never need to 
"go on vacation".

Good luck!



M. Adam Davis wrote:
> So I'm moving to a bit of dirt about 15 miles south of ann arbor and
> building a home.  I've long been interested in home automation and
> other such projects, and it'll obviously be wired for 1000baseT,
> phone, cable, etc with space for future wire runs.  It'll also be
> suitable for wireless use, but frankly I hate moving DVDs across slow
> wireless connections.
> 
> So I have a few questions to brainstorm about:
> 
> 1) What would you change about your house if you could?  Or more
> specifically, what would you change that is easier to do at the start
> than it is to retrofit later?
> 
> 2) Assuming unlimited "dreaming" budget, what would you build into a
> custom designed house?
> 
> 3) Any new or old homebuilding technology that I should really look into?
> 
> 4) What would you do with 10 acres of land?
> 
> So for my first thoughts:
> 
> 1) I like home automation.  Would be cool to be able to control
> electrical items using more than just a switch on the wall.  Would be
> nice to have whole house sound, security...
> 
> 2) Theater, rooftop gazebo or sod roof, passive solar heating,
> cooling.  Geothermal heating/cooling.  Skylights, lots of natural
> light.
> 
> 3) Insulated concrete forms, steel frame construction, pole
> construction, log home...
> 
> 4) Orchards, gardens, animals, wood/metal shop, english gardens (hedge
> maze!), small landing strip (land is around 1200' x 350'), wind &
> solar electricity...
> 
> Of course, I won't be able to implement much dreamy stuff(time and
> money), but the more stuff I think about before designing/building it,
> the better off I'll be in the long run.
> 
> This is brainstorming!  No negative stuff!  I really do want to hear
> your wacky unobtanium ideas.
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> -Adam


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